trader

noun

trad·​er ˈtrā-dər 

1

: a person whose business is buying and selling or barter: such as

a

: merchant

b

: a person who buys and sells (something, such as stocks or commodities futures) in search of short-term profits

2

: a ship engaged in the coastal or foreign trade

Synonyms

• dealer
• merchandiser
• merchant
• tradesman
• trafficker

Examples of trader in a Sentence

She is a stock trader.

early explorers and fur traders

Recent Examples on the Web

The acronym — which stands for Trump Always Chickens Out — was coined by a Financial Times columnist and has since been adopted by traders attempting to navigate the dozens of changes to tariff policy Trump has announced over the early months of his presidency. —Bloomberg, Oc Register, 28 May 2025

Professional traders and algorithms move faster than retail investors, digesting and acting on information in milliseconds. —Adam Sarhan, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025

The gap between winners and losers has raised concerns about wealth concentration and retail trader exploitation — dynamics that critics say mirror the very financial system that crypto is trying to disrupt. —Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 3 June 2025

In an increasingly familiar pattern, Chinese traders, banned from commercial logging in domestic natural forests, exploit governments with the weakest legislation, most limited enforcement capabilities, and highest susceptibility to corruption. —Justyna Gudzowska, Foreign Affairs, 2 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing trader

• day trader
• free trader

Rhymes for trader

• aider
• fader
• grader
• kadir
• nadir
• prader
• raider
• schrader
• seder
• shader
• crusader
• invader

Kids Definition

trader

noun

trad·​er ˈtrād-ər 

1

: a person who trades

2

: a ship engaged in trade